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May 22, 2025
TECH

OpenAI Scientist Wants to Build Bunker Before Releasing Artificial General Intelligence.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: Former OpenAI Chief Scientist Ilya Sutskever reportedly discussed building a bunker in preparation for the release of artificial general intelligence (AGI).

👥 Who’s Involved: Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI leadership, CEO Sam Altman, and researchers within the company.

📍 Where & When: OpenAI, summer 2023, leading up to the November 2023 attempted ouster of Altman.

💬 Key Quote: “We’re definitely going to build a bunker before we release AGI,” Sutskever said during a meeting.

⚠️ Impact: Sutskever’s fixation on AGI and related concerns contributed to internal strife at OpenAI, culminating in his role in an unsuccessful coup against Altman, dubbed “The Blip.”

IN FULL:

OpenAI’s former Chief Scientist, Ilya Sutskever, reportedly suggested constructing a bunker to prepare for the potential risks associated with artificial general intelligence (AGI), according to new details shared by insiders familiar with the 2023 tumult at the top of the artificial intelligence (AI) company. The revelations, which emerged in interviews conducted by journalist Karen Hao, highlight Sutskever’s intense preoccupation with AGI and its implications.

During a summer 2023 meeting, Sutskever reportedly stated, “We’re definitely going to build a bunker before we release AGI.” Two other individuals who attended the meeting corroborated the account, with one describing Sutskever’s AGI beliefs as akin to anticipating a “rapture.”

AGI refers to a form of AI capable of grasping any intellectual tasks a human being can and carrying them out, possibly more effectively. Sutskever, who co-founded OpenAI, has long been vocal about his views on AGI, even claiming in 2022 that some AI models might be “slightly conscious.” His concerns about AGI’s development reportedly deepened by mid-2023, alongside growing dissatisfaction with OpenAI’s handling of the technology.

This unease played a role in Sutskever’s decision to join other board members in a failed attempt to oust CEO Sam Altman in November 2023. However, sources indicated that Sutskever’s resolve wavered as OpenAI employees rallied behind Altman. He later retracted his opposition to Altman’s leadership, though this effort to salvage his position ultimately proved unsuccessful.

The internal turmoil, referred to by OpenAI insiders as “The Blip,” underscores the divisions within the company over its direction and the risks of AGI. Despite Sutskever’s departure, the debate over AGI’s future and its potential consequences continues to loom large over OpenAI and the broader tech industry.

Recently, OpenAI announced it was partnering with a start-up founded by Jony Ive, famous for his work on Apple hardware, especially the design of the iPhone. While neither Ive nor Altman has revealed what sort of hardware product the partnership will produce, it is speculated that it will focus on “physical AI embodiments,” essentially moving the AI technology to other forms besides computers.

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17 minutes ago
Data
Politics
War

Trump Rating Hits All-Time Low With FRIENDLY Pollster as War Opposition Amongst 2024 Trump Voters Doubles.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump’s approval rating has dropped to 42 percent, the lowest of his presidency, according to a new poll.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and 1,037 registered voters surveyed by JL Partners.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Poll conducted online from March 18 to March 20, 2026, amid the ongoing Iran war.

🎯IMPACT: Rising inflation, gas prices, and opposition to the Iran war are driving disapproval, with 54 percent of voters saying the economy is worsening.

IN FULL

President Donald J. Trump‘s approval rating has dropped to 42 percent, according to a new poll from Trump-friendly JL Partners. This marks the lowest approval rating of his presidency, down from 44 percent earlier this month and 48 percent in January. The poll surveyed 1,037 registered voters online from March 18 to March 20, with a margin of error of plus or minus three percent.

According to the survey, the Iran war and inflation fears are key reasons for the decline. Twenty-eight percent of respondents disapproved of Trump’s handling of the Middle East, up from 20 percent earlier this month. Meanwhile, 44 percent blamed him for rising inflation, an increase from 38 percent at the start of March. Gas prices have risen to $3.90 per gallon nationally, compared to $2.90 before U.S. strikes began on February 28.

Support for the Iran war has also waned. Initially, 40 percent of voters supported military action, but that figure has now dropped to 33 percent, with 49 percent opposing the conflict. Among Trump voters, support for the war has decreased from 75 percent to 61 percent, while opposition has risen to 22 percent. Thirteen U.S. troops have been killed and over 200 injured since the U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran started.

Economic sentiment has also worsened, with 54 percent of voters saying the economy is deteriorating, up from 44 percent last month. Only 16 percent believe the economy is improving, a significant drop from 30 percent in February. The poll also revealed that only 19 percent of voters would tolerate a $1 increase in gas prices to secure a military victory, while just seven percent would accept up to 10,000 American fatalities in the conflict.

Vice President J.D. Vance, however, has not seen his approval rating affected by the Iran war. His approval remains steady at 47 percent, five points higher than Trump’s. Notably, independents, who are crucial for Republican success in the 2026 midterm elections, oppose the war by a two-to-one margin, with 50 percent against and 24 percent in favor. Democrats are overwhelmingly opposed, with 76 percent disapproving of the decision to strike Iran.

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By Popular Demand.
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44 minutes ago
Jack Montgomery
Health
Lawfare

Biden Judge Reverses RFK Jr. Ban on Transgender Surgeries for Minors.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal judge appointed by former President Joe Biden announced he will grant a motion by Democrat states to vacate a declaration by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. banning doctors from performing gender transition procedures such as breast amputations on minors.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. District Court Judge Mustafa Kasubhai, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., New York Attorney General Letitia James (D), and officials from New York and 18 other states.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made on Thursday in Oregon, with the judge’s formal written opinion expected soon.

💬KEY QUOTE: “No one should lose access to medically necessary health care because their federal government tried to interfere in decisions that belong in doctors’ offices.” – Letitia James

🎯IMPACT: The ruling challenges the HHS declaration, potentially allowing states to bypass restrictions on inflicting irreversible gender transition procedures on minors.

IN FULL

On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Mustafa Kasubhai, appointed by former President Joe Biden in late 2024, announced that he intends to grant a motion brought by a coalition of Democrat-led states to vacate a declaration issued by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. banning gender transition procedures such as breast amputations for minors.

The declaration, released in December 2025, stated that puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries are “neither safe nor effective” treatments for gender dysphoria, and do not meet professionally recognized standards of healthcare. It also warned that providers offering these services could face exclusion from federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

During a lengthy hearing, Judge Kasubhai indicated he would issue a formal written opinion soon and that he plans to deny the government’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit and grant the states’ request for summary judgment, effectively blocking the declaration’s enforcement.

The lawsuit, brought by Democrat-led states including New York and involving a total of 19 states plus Washington, D.C., argued that the declaration unlawfully overstepped HHS authority, interfered with state regulation of medicine, and violated federal rulemaking requirements.

New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, “No one should lose access to medically necessary health care because their federal government tried to interfere in decisions that belong in doctors’ offices.”

However, earlier this year in New York, a jury awarded a 22-year-old “detransitioner” $1.6 million for pain and suffering and $400,000 for future medical expenses after a psychologist and a surgeon performed transgender procedures on her, including a double mastectomy at age 16.

Image by Wikilawcontributor.

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By Popular Demand.
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1 hour ago
UK
War

Britain Grants Trump Use of Bases for Iran Strikes.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The British government has agreed to allow the United States to use British bases for defensive operations targeting Iranian missile sites attacking oil tankers and other vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Britain’s governing Labour Party, the U.S. military, and Iranian forces.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Announced on March 20, 2026, following a ministerial meeting in London, England.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Ministers condemned Iran’s expansion of its targets to include international shipping. They agreed that Iran’s reckless strikes… risked pushing the region further into crisis and worsening the economic impact being felt in the UK and around the world.” – Spokesman for Prime Minister Starmer

🎯IMPACT: The decision aims to safeguard international shipping and prevent further economic disruption caused by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

IN FULL

Britain’s Labour Party government has approved the use of British bases by the United States to conduct strikes targeting Iranian missile sites that have been used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement followed a ministerial meeting to address escalating conflict in the Middle East.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that government ministers condemned Iran’s targeting of international shipping and civilian infrastructure, describing such actions as reckless and dangerous. The spokesman added, “They confirmed that the agreement for the U.S. to use UK bases in the collective self-defense of the region includes U.S. defensive operations to degrade the missile sites and capabilities being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the British decision, calling it “participation in aggression” and warning against targeting Iranian interests. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper underscored that the decision was a response to Iran’s strikes on Gulf countries and its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical international shipping route for oil, gas, and fertilizer.

The economic ramifications of Iran’s actions have already been felt globally. The Bank of England warned that inflation could rise significantly due to higher wholesale energy costs. Oil and gas prices surged earlier in the week but retreated slightly on Friday, with Brent crude dropping to $108 per barrel.

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By Popular Demand.
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2 hours ago
War

Trump Orders Even More Warships, Marines to Middle East.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Pentagon is deploying three additional warships and approximately 2,500 US Marines to the Middle East, marking the second deployment to the region this week.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the USS Boxer amphibious ready group, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Deployment announced this week, with troops heading to CENTCOM’s area of operation in the Middle East.

💬KEY QUOTE: “No, I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you,” President Trump told the media when questioned on possible ground action in Iran.

🎯IMPACT: This deployment raises the possibility that Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran, may escalate to involve a ground component, such as an amphibious assault on Kharg Island.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of War is sending three additional warships and approximately 2,500 U.S. Marines to the Middle East, in the second troop deployment announced this week. This latest deployment includes the USS Boxer amphibious ready group and elements of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, likely intended to bolster ongoing U.S.-Israeli military strikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Earlier this week, the Pentagon ordered the deployment of 2,200 Marines and sailors aboard the USS Tripoli, based in Japan, to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations in the Middle East, possibly to participate in the seizure of Iran’s Kharg Island. Notably, the island—located just off the coast of Iran in the northern Persian Gulf—serves as a critical hub for Iranian oil exports, hosting extensive petroleum storage and port facilities.

Despite the new Marine deployments and repositioning of warships, President Donald J. Trump insisted on Thursday that he does not currently intend to put “boots on the ground” in Iran. “No, I’m not putting troops anywhere. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you,” Trump told the media, though he added that his administration will “do whatever’s necessary to keep the price” of oil down.

Notably, the latest Middle East deployments coincide with the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier leaving its position in the eastern Mediterranean off the coast of Israel for port in Greece to undergo minor repairs following a small kitchen fire. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group remains positioned in the Arabian Sea in support of Operation Epic Fury.

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2 hours ago
Crime

Trump Set to Extend D.C.’s National Guard Deployment Until 2029.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Pentagon will maintain the National Guard presence in Washington, D.C., until 2029.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, National Guard members, and local D.C. residents.

📍WHEN & WHERE: Washington, D.C., through 2029 during Trump’s term.

🎯IMPACT: The National Guard presence has coincided with a sharp decline in crime, but sparked resistance from Democrat lawmakers and far-left political groups.

IN FULL

The Trump administration is expected to extend the deployment of National Guard members in Washington, D.C. until 2029. While the Pentagon has not formally announced the deployment extension, it is anticipated that the order will soon be approved by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, with the National Guard presence remaining in the nation’s capital until the end of President Donald J. Trump‘s second term in office.

The National Guard deployment across the capital has coincided with a notable reduction in violent crime, with the initial deployment last summer first extended until February 2026, and subsequently extended again in January until the end of the year. The National Pulse previously reported that data published by Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) shows that, year-to-date, homicides were down 80 percent, robberies down 58 percent, burglaries down 58 percent, car thefts down 57 percent, and crime across the board down 26 percent.

Additionally, the Washington, D.C., metro area’s public transit system announced this past January that 2025 saw the lowest crime rate on the subway and bus networks in decades. This precipitous drop in crime appears directly tied to the National Guard presence around the city.

The deployment has met with minor opposition, mainly from Democrat lawmakers on Capitol Hill and far-left activist groups that have organized small protests across the city. However, a survey of Washington, D.C. residents during the initial deployment last August shows that 54 percent of voters in the capital believe President Trump’s crackdown on violent crime and National Guard deployment is justified and necessary.

Still, attempts by the Trump administration to expand the successful crackdown on crime in Washington, D.C., to other major American cities have proven difficult. In mid-February, the Pentagon ended the federal deployment of National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Portland. This followed months of Democrat-led lawfare against the deployments.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
NatSec
News

Secret Service Agent Responsible for Butler Security Suspended AGAIN for Failing to Disclose Migrant Marriage.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A Secret Service agent, Myosoty “Miyo” Perez, was suspended for failing to report her marriage to a foreign national and is under investigation. Notably, Perez was responsible for the security plan at the 2024 rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where President Donald J. Trump was nearly assassinated

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Myosoty “Miyo” Perez, the U.S. Secret Service, and her attorney Larry Berger.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The suspension occurred following her marriage in April 2025, as reported in March 2026.

💬KEY QUOTE: “It speaks to the sad state of affairs of the Secret Service in recent years and who they’re hiring.” – Former Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official Rich Staropoli

🎯IMPACT: Ongoing investigations into Perez’s actions and broader scrutiny of Secret Service practices following multiple security failures.

IN FULL

The U.S. Secret Service has reportedly suspended agent Myosoty “Miyo” Perez, who served as the site agent responsible for the security arrangements at the July 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where President Donald J. Trump was almost assassinated, for the third time in the past 18 months. The current suspension and ongoing internal investigation stem from her April 2025 marriage to a Brazilian national, which she did not report to the agency as required.

At Butler, Perez was involved in planning and implementing the security measures for the rally, which drew criticism for shortcomings such as the failure to place personnel on a critical rooftop that gunman Thomas Crooks used to shoot President Trump in the ear, kill Trump supporter Corey Comperatore, and wound two more rallygoers. She was among six agents involved in the Butler failures who were suspended without pay last year. However, by February, she was once again involved in high-level security for former President George W. Bush. She has also previously been suspended for speaking to the media about Butler without permission.

The latest probe centers not just on the fact that Perez failed to report her marriage, but on possible immigration-related concerns involving her spouse. “How does a Secret Service agent not properly report a relationship with a foreign national that could be an illegal alien, let alone marry her and then not report the marriage?” commented Rich Staropoli, a former Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official, adding that the situation “speaks to the sad state of affairs of the Secret Service in recent years and who they’re hiring.”

The DHS’s Office of Inspector General continues to work on final reports examining the Secret Service’s response to the 2024 assassination attempt. An earlier Secret Service report admitted to a catalogue of errors before and during the shooting.

Image by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images.

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By Popular Demand.
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3 hours ago
Lawfare
News

Former FBI Agents Who Investigated Trump Are Now Suing for ‘Wrongful’ Termination.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: Two former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents have filed a lawsuit claiming they were wrongfully terminated after working on Biden-era investigations targeting President Donald J. Trump.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The lawsuit involves two former FBI agents, FBI Director Kash Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

📍WHEN & WHERE: The lawsuit was filed on Thursday, March 19, 2026, in federal court in Washington, D.C.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Plaintiffs’ terminations were unlawful because they were based on a perception that Plaintiffs were not political supporters of President Trump,” the lawsuit filed by the former FBI agents claims.

🎯IMPACT: The case comes amid several federal and congressional investigations into the involvement of government officials in the 2016 election’s Russia collusion hoax and the post-2020 election’s Arctic Frost scandal.

IN FULL

Two former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents have filed a lawsuit claiming they were wrongfully terminated after working on Joe Biden-era investigations targeting President Donald J. Trump. The lawsuit, filed by two former Special Agents only identified as “John Doe 1” and “John Doe 2,” claims their dismissal by the Trump administration violated their constitutional rights under the First and Fifth Amendments.

“Plaintiffs request that this Court review their firings and grant relief on the grounds that Defendants’ actions violated Plaintiffs’ First Amendment rights to free association and speech and their Fifth Amendment rights to due process. Plaintiffs seek equitable relief in vindication of their constitutional rights and declaratory relief under the Federal Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2201-2202,” the lawsuit demands, while claiming, “Plaintiffs’ terminations were unlawful because they were based on a perception that Plaintiffs were not political supporters of President Trump.”

The lawsuit centers almost exclusively on the two former FBI agents’ involvement in the Arctic Frost scandal targeting Trump, Republican lawmakers, and GOP political groups, which was initiated by the FBI Washington Field Office’s former assistant special agent in charge, Timothy Thibault. After Thibault was forced to resign from the FBI in 2022 over his handling of a separate probe into Hunter Biden, the Arctic Frost investigation was handed over to Biden Department of Justice (DOJ) special counsel Jack Smith.

Notably, the former FBI agents claim that FBI Director Kash Patel dismissed them after congressional investigations into Arctic Frost, which led to one plaintiff being publicly named in documents and to the operation being labeled “partisan.” Both claim their firings are retaliation for perceived political affiliations. The lawsuit names Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the DOJ as defendants.

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4 hours ago
Jack Montgomery
News
Politics

Paxton TROUNCES Cornyn in New Texas Runoff Poll.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: A new poll indicates Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) has a strong lead in the Republican U.S. Senate runoff against Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), and is better placed to defeat Democrat nominee James Talarico.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Ken Paxton, John Cornyn, and James Talarico.

📍WHEN & WHERE: March 20, 2026, in Texas.

💬KEY QUOTE: “Likely Republican primary voters strongly prefer Paxton over Cornyn.” – Impact Research poll memo

🎯IMPACT: If he prevails over Cornyn in the primary, Paxton’s strong base appeal could drive Republican turnout in a closely contested general election.

IN FULL

A new poll of likely voters in Texas for the 2026 election cycle indicates that state Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-TX) is positioned strongly in the Republican U.S. Senate runoff against incumbent Republican-in-name-only (RINO) Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). The poll also suggests that Paxton is better placed to defeat controversial Democrat nominee James Talarico in the general election.

The survey gives Talarico a 43 percent to 41 percent lead over Cornyn, and a narrower 44 percent to 43 percent lead over Paxton. Notably, Paxton holds a significant advantage among likely Republican primary voters, leading Cornyn by 53 percent to 37 percent in direct preferences. His strong appeal within the GOP base is further demonstrated by his net favorability rating of +33 among Republican primary voters, compared to Cornyn’s net negative 45 percent favorable / 47 percent unfavorable rating. Paxton’s favorability is also superior to Cornyn’s among independents, at net -32 compared to Cornyn’s -42.

This clear preference among core Republican voters positions Paxton to more effectively rally the party’s energized conservative wing, which could prove crucial for high turnout and momentum heading into the general election against Talarico.

Paxton has a strong track record as an America First conservative and supporter of President Donald J. Trump. Meanwhile, Cornyn has a long history of backstabbing the President, from opposing his border wall proposals in 2015 to opposing his primary campaign in 2024.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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4 hours ago
Health
Science

Epidemiologist Brands mRNA Vaccines ‘One of the LARGEST Carcinogenic Exposures in History.’

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: An epidemiologist’s assertion that COVID-19 vaccination amounts to one of the largest carcinogenic exposures in history went viral on social media.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Master of Public Health Nicolas Hulscher, of the McCullough Foundation.

📍WHEN & WHERE: February 2026, on X (formerly Twitter).

💬KEY QUOTE: “HUNDREDS of studies now indicate COVID-19 ‘vaccines’ are one of the LARGEST carcinogenic exposures in history.” – Nicolas Hulscher

🎯IMPACT: Hulscher’s claims have sparked a significant online debate.

IN FULL

Nicolas Hulscher, an epidemiologist at the McCullough Foundation with a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, went viral on X (formerly Twitter) in February with explosive allegations about COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. In a post quoting concerns about rising cancer cases among young people, Hulscher wrote: “HUNDREDS of studies now indicate COVID-19 ‘vaccines’ are one of the LARGEST carcinogenic exposures in history.”

He followed with a list of 20 alleged mechanisms by which the vaccines increase the risk of multiple major cancers, disrupt thousands of critical genes, integrate into human genomes, drive genome instability and chronic inflammation, suppress DNA repair, and reactivate dormant cancers, among other issues.

In a follow-up post, Hulscher declared “The evidence is now undeniable,” linking eight studies he described as proving increased cancer risks, genomic integration, transcriptomic dysregulation, and “turbo cancer” cases tied to the vaccines.

The McCullough Foundation is led by Dr. Peter McCullough, a renowned cardiologist who has previously warned against the Democrats and a left-leaning “biopharmaceutical complex” exploiting an outbreak of bird flu or some similar virus to declare another pandemic and undermine a Republican government.

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5 hours ago
News

DOJ Launches Criminal Probes Into Outgoing Colombian ‘Narco-President’ Gustavo Petro.

PULSE POINTS

❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Gustavo Petro of Colombia is under criminal investigation by at least two U.S. federal prosecutors’ offices.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Gustavo Petro, U.S. Attorneys’ offices in Manhattan and Brooklyn, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and President Donald J. Trump.

📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigations were revealed on Friday, March 20, 2026, and remain ongoing.

🎯IMPACT: The investigations could influence Colombia’s upcoming presidential elections and affect U.S.-Colombia relations.

IN FULL

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has directed federal prosecutors in both Manhattan and Brooklyn to open criminal investigations into Colombia’s radical socialist President, Gustavo Petro, over alleged meetings with drug traffickers and accusations that he is accepted campaign contributions from criminal cartels. Both federal criminal probes appear to be in the earliest stages, and it is unclear whether either will result in criminal charges.

Colombia’s Petro is one of the last remaining critics of U.S. President Donald J. Trump in South America. However, Petro is term-limited and is set to leave office after Colombia’s May 2026 presidential election, suggesting the DOJ’s criminal probes are setting the stage for the alleged narco-leader’s prosecution after his presidential term expires.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are involved in these inquiries. However, despite the long-standing acrimony between President Trump and Petro, there is currently no evidence that the investigations were requested or initiated by the White House, and allegations of Petro’s involvement with drug traffickers and criminal cartels long predate Trump’s second term in office.

The National Pulse reported in October last year that Petro had suggested in an interview with the Spanish-language network Univision that “getting rid of” Trump may be necessary. These comments came just one day after President Trump called Petro a “lunatic” and vowed to halt foreign aid and other payments to Colombia over Petro’s inability to shut down the illicit cocaine trade. A month later, Petro again attacked President Trump, calling him a “barbarian” for authorizing the U.S. military to destroy cartel drug boats in the Caribbean and the Pacific.

In 2023, Petro’s eldest son, Nicolas, admitted that illicit campaign contributions from people connected to cartels had flowed into his father’s presidential campaign accounts. Still, no charges were filed against Petro himself. However, the U.S Department of the Treasury did sanction Petro and several of his family members in late 2025.

Petro’s U.S. visa was revoked last September but reinstated earlier this month.

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